Chapter 3 - ROOM 2047They escaped through an emergency stairwell.
Luca slammed the door behind them.
Mara leaned against the wall, gasping.
“My mother is alive.”
Luca didn't respond.
“You heard her.”
“I heard Helen.”
“She said my mother is in Room 2047.”
Luca looked at her.
“Then we're going there.”
“Now.”
“Yes.”
“Why did she warn me not to let you take me there?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Luca stepped closer.
“I don't lie when a person is trying to kill me.”
“You lied about knowing where my mother died.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you weren't ready.”
Mara laughed bitterly.
“I'm ready now.”
They returned to the elevator.
The floor numbers appeared normally.
Then the doors opened onto the Bellweather lobby.
Hotel guests continued talking.
Music played.
A couple argued near the bar.
Nobody seemed to notice that Mara had just escaped a secret underground facility.
That frightened her more than the guns.
Luca led her toward a private corridor.
Daniel Mercer appeared from behind a pillar.
His shirt was torn.
His face was bruised.
“Mara.”
She stopped.
Daniel raised his hands.
“I'm not here to hurt you.”
Luca stepped between them.
“You're done.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You really don't know, do you?”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Know what?”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Your father didn't die.”
Mara stared.
“Everyone is saying that.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your mother and his father both disappeared because they discovered the same thing.”
“What?”
Daniel reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.
“Read this.”
Luca grabbed it first.
Inside was a photograph.
Anthony Moretti stood beside Rose Ellis.
Between them was a little girl.
Mara.
But Mara recognized the child immediately.
She was four years old.
And on the back of the photograph was written:
SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER.
Mara whispered:
“Remember what?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why were you following me?”
“Because someone paid me to keep you alive.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the hotel entrance.
Before answering, he said:
“Your mother.”
Mara's eyes widened.
“She contacted me six months ago.”
“Impossible.”
“She told me she was hiding.”
“Where?”
“I never knew.”
He handed Mara a key.
Small.
Brass.
Stamped 2047.
“The room isn't on any hotel map.”
Luca looked at it.
“Where did you get this?”
Daniel's smile vanished.
“From the only person who survived it.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at Mara.
“You.”
Mara felt sick.
“What?”
“When you were four, they brought you there.”
“No.”
“Your mother came for you.”
“What happened?”
“I don't know.”
Luca grabbed Daniel.
“You're hiding something.”
Daniel winced.
“I was a child too.”
Luca released him.
Mara stared at the key.
“What does Room 2047 mean?”
Daniel whispered:
“Not a room.”
“Then what?”
“A record.”
Before Mara could ask another question, Daniel's expression changed.
He looked beyond them.
A woman in a white coat stood near the elevator.
Watching.
“That's her,” Daniel whispered.
“Who?”
“The woman who killed my brother.”
He ran.
The woman immediately followed.
Luca cursed.
“Mara, stay here.”
“No.”
He chased them.
Mara stood alone.
Then the hotel receptionist approached.
“Ms. Ellis?”
“Yes?”
The receptionist handed her an envelope.
“This was left for you.”
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
Mara opened it.
Inside was a single handwritten line.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES BEFORE THEY MOVE HER.
Her heart pounded.
She ran toward the service elevator.
The brass key fit perfectly.
The doors opened.
Inside was no elevator panel.
Only one button.
2047
Mara pressed it.
The doors closed.
This time, the elevator didn't descend.
It moved sideways.
The sensation made her stomach twist.
After several seconds, the doors opened.
A white corridor stretched ahead.
At the far end was a glass wall.
Behind it sat an elderly woman.
Dark hair streaked with silver.
Hands clasped.
Silver necklace around her throat.
Mara stopped.
Her knees nearly collapsed.
The woman slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met.
“Mara.”
Mara's lips trembled.
“Mom?”
The woman stood.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You're alive.”
Mara stared at her.
“I thought you were dead.”
Rose pressed a hand against the glass.
“I know.”
Mara moved closer.
“Why did you leave me?”
Rose's expression broke.
“I didn't.”
She pointed behind Mara.
Mara turned.
Luca stood in the corridor.
His gun was lowered.
But his face was unreadable.
Rose's voice cracked.
“Don't let him open the door.”
Mara looked back.
“Why?”
May you like
Rose whispered:
“Because the man standing beside you is not Luca Moretti.”
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